Jeff Francis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeff Francis |
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Francis with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015
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| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||
| Born: January 8, 1981 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| August 25, 2004, for the Colorado Rockies | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||
| October 4, 2015, for the Toronto Blue Jays | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 72–82 | |||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.97 | |||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 869 | |||||||||||||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2022 | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Jeffrey William Francis (born January 8, 1981) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams, including the Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays. He is a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Jeff Francis grew up in North Delta, British Columbia, Canada. He went to Burnsview Junior Secondary School and North Delta Senior Secondary School. After playing for the North Delta Blue Jays, a top junior baseball team, he studied physics at the University of British Columbia. While there, he also played baseball for the UBC Thunderbirds.
Professional Baseball Career
Joining the Colorado Rockies
Jeff Francis was a top pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. The Colorado Rockies chose him as the 9th player overall. He and another Canadian player, Adam Loewen, were drafted higher than any other Canadians before them. This brought them a lot of attention.
In 2004, Jeff was named Minor League Player of the Year by two major sports publications. He was the first player from the Colorado Rockies organization to win these awards. He had an amazing year, winning 16 games and only losing 3. He also had a very low ERA of 2.21. He struck out 196 batters in just over 154 innings, showing how dominant he was.
Making His MLB Debut in 2004
Jeff Francis played his first Major League Baseball game on August 25, 2004. He pitched for the Colorado Rockies against the Atlanta Braves. He got his first win on September 5, 2004, against the San Diego Padres. He finished his first year with 3 wins and 2 losses.
Playing in 2005 and 2006
In 2005, Francis became a regular pitcher for the Rockies. He started 33 games and ended the season with 14 wins and 12 losses. In 2006, he improved his pitching, lowering his ERA. He also won 13 games that year. On September 23, 2006, he earned his 30th career win. This made him the left-handed pitcher with the most wins in Rockies history. In November 2006, he signed a four-year contract with the team.
Leading the Rockies in 2007
The year 2007 was one of Jeff Francis's best. He helped lead the Rockies to the playoffs for the first time in over ten years. He won a career-high 17 games and struck out 165 batters.
On October 3, 2007, he made history. He became the first Canadian starting pitcher to win an MLB postseason game. He beat the Philadelphia Phillies in his first playoff appearance. Later, on October 24, 2007, he pitched in the 2007 World Series. The Rockies lost the series to the Boston Red Sox.
Dealing with Injuries (2008–2009)
After his great 2007 season, Francis had a tougher time in 2008. He finished with 4 wins and 10 losses. He later said he was pitching with a sore shoulder for much of the season. In February 2009, he had surgery on his left shoulder. This meant he missed the entire 2009 season. He also couldn't play for Team Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Returning to the Mound in 2010
Jeff Francis started the 2010 season on the injured list. He returned to play on May 16, 2010, helping the Rockies win. He pitched in 20 games that year, finishing with 4 wins and 6 losses. After the season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Playing for the Kansas City Royals
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On January 14, 2011, Francis signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. He became one of their main starting pitchers. He led the team in many pitching stats during the first half of the year. He finished the season with 6 wins and 16 losses for the Royals. After the season, he became a free agent again.
Short Stints with Other Teams
Cincinnati Reds (First Time)
In January 2012, Francis signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched well for their Triple-A team, the Louisville Bats. He later chose to leave the contract to explore other options.
Back with the Colorado Rockies (2012–2013)
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After leaving the Reds, Francis rejoined the Colorado Rockies in June 2012. He pitched for them for the rest of the 2012 season. He signed with the Rockies again for 2013. That year was difficult for him, as he pitched both as a starter and from the bullpen. He finished with 3 wins and 5 losses. He became a free agent after the season.
Cincinnati Reds (Second Time)
In January 2014, Francis signed another minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He played one game for the Reds in May before being moved off the team.
Oakland Athletics
In May 2014, the Oakland Athletics picked up Francis. He played for them for a short time before being moved off the team in July.
New York Yankees
In July 2014, the New York Yankees acquired Francis. He was with the team for a few weeks before being released in August.
Finishing His Career with the Toronto Blue Jays
On October 31, 2014, Jeff Francis signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He started the 2015 season in Triple-A. On April 19, his contract was bought by the Blue Jays, and he made his debut that day. He pitched to Russell Martin, forming the first all-Canadian "battery" (pitcher and catcher) in Blue Jays history. He made 14 appearances for the Blue Jays in 2015.
On December 15, 2015, Jeff Francis announced his retirement from baseball.
Over his MLB career, Francis pitched 1291 innings. He had 72 wins and 82 losses, with an ERA of 4.97. He also struck out 869 batters. He was a very good fielder, making only one error in 255 chances.
In February 2022, Jeff Francis was chosen to be in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He was officially inducted in June 2022.
Personal Life
Jeff Francis married Allison Padfield on December 31, 2005. They have two children: a daughter named Cameron, born in late 2009, and a son named Miles, born in December 2011.
Playing for Team Canada
Jeff Francis also represented Team Canada in international competitions. He played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the 2015 Pan American Games. At the 2015 Pan American Games Men's baseball tournament, he won a gold medal with Team Canada.
